Handling different HTTP methods in Django - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What is the output when a GET request is sent?

Consider this Django view function:

from django.http import HttpResponse

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    return HttpResponse('Hello World')

What will the response content be when a GET request is sent to this view?

Django

from django.http import HttpResponse

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    return HttpResponse('Hello World')

A HttpResponse with empty content

B HttpResponse with content 'Post received'

C Raises an error because GET is not handled

D HttpResponse with content 'Hello World'

💡 Hint

Check how the view handles methods other than POST.

The view returns 'Post received' only if the method is POST. For GET, it returns 'Hello World'.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option correctly handles GET and POST methods in a Django view?

Choose the code snippet that correctly handles GET and POST requests in a Django view function.

A

def view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('POST')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('GET')

B

def view(request):
    if request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('GET')
    elif request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('POST')

C

def view(request):
    if request.method == 'PUT':
        return HttpResponse('PUT')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('GET')

D

def view(request):
    if request.method == 'DELETE':
        return HttpResponse('DELETE')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('POST')

💡 Hint

Remember to handle both GET and POST explicitly or with else.

Option A correctly returns 'POST' for POST requests and 'GET' for all others, including GET requests.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this Django view raise an error on POST?

Examine this Django view:

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST'
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    return HttpResponse('Hello')

What is the cause of the error when a POST request is sent?

Django

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST'
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    return HttpResponse('Hello')

A HttpResponse is not imported causing NameError

B Missing colon ':' after the if statement causes SyntaxError

C request.method is not a valid attribute causing AttributeError

D Indentation error in the return statement

💡 Hint

Check the syntax of the if statement line.

The if statement is missing a colon at the end, causing a SyntaxError.

❓ state_output

advanced

What is the response content after a PUT request?

Given this Django view:

from django.http import HttpResponse

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    elif request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('Hello World')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('Other method')

What will be the response content if a PUT request is sent?

Django

from django.http import HttpResponse

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('Post received')
    elif request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('Hello World')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('Other method')

A Raises an error because PUT is not handled

B HttpResponse with content 'Hello World'

C HttpResponse with content 'Other method'

D HttpResponse with content 'Post received'

💡 Hint

Check how the else block handles methods other than GET and POST.

The else block returns 'Other method' for any HTTP method not GET or POST, including PUT.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Which HTTP method is NOT handled by this Django view and what happens?

Analyze this Django view function:

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('GET method')
    elif request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('POST method')

Which HTTP method is not handled and what will the server respond with if that method is used?

Django

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('GET method')
    elif request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('POST method')

A Any method other than GET or POST is not handled; server returns 500 Internal Server Error

B DELETE method is not handled; server returns 404 Not Found

C PUT method is not handled; server returns 200 OK with empty response

D PUT method is not handled; server returns 500 Internal Server Error

💡 Hint

Consider what happens if no return statement runs in a Django view.

If the request method is not GET or POST, the view does not return a response, causing Django to raise an error resulting in a 500 Internal Server Error.

Practice

1. In Django, which attribute of the request object helps you determine if the HTTP method is GET or POST inside a view?

easy

A. request.method

B. request.type

C. request.http_method

D. request.action

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the request object in Django views

   The request object contains details about the HTTP request, including the method used.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct attribute for HTTP method

   The attribute request.method holds the HTTP method as a string like 'GET' or 'POST'.

3. Final Answer:

   request.method -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Check HTTP method with request.method [OK]

Hint: Use request.method to check HTTP method type [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using request.type instead of request.method
• Trying to access request.http_method which doesn't exist
• Confusing request.action with HTTP method

2. Which of the following is the correct way to restrict a Django view to only accept GET and POST requests using a decorator?

easy

A. @http_methods_only(["GET", "POST"])

B. @allow_methods("GET", "POST")

C. @accept_methods(["GET", "POST"])

D. @require_http_methods(["GET", "POST"])

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Django's built-in decorators for HTTP methods

   Django provides @require_http_methods to restrict allowed HTTP methods on views.

2. Step 2: Check correct syntax for the decorator

   The decorator takes a list of allowed methods as strings, e.g., ["GET", "POST"].

3. Final Answer:

   @require_http_methods(["GET", "POST"]) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use @require_http_methods([...]) to restrict methods [OK]

Hint: Use @require_http_methods([...]) to limit HTTP methods [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent decorators like @allow_methods
• Passing methods as separate arguments instead of a list
• Misspelling the decorator name

3. What will be the output of the following Django view when accessed with a POST request?

from django.http import HttpResponse

def my_view(request):
    if request.method == 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('This is a GET request')
    elif request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('This is a POST request')

medium

A. This is a GET request

B. This is a POST request

C. Error: Method not allowed

D. No response returned

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the request method check

   The view checks if request.method is 'GET' or 'POST' and returns corresponding responses.

2. Step 2: Determine response for POST request

   Since the request is POST, the view returns 'This is a POST request' wrapped in an HttpResponse.

3. Final Answer:

   This is a POST request -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   POST request returns 'This is a POST request' [OK]

Hint: Match request.method to response text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming GET response for POST requests
• Expecting an error without decorator
• Missing return statement for POST branch

4. Identify the error in this Django view that tries to handle GET and POST methods:

def example_view(request):
    if request.method = 'GET':
        return HttpResponse('GET request')
    elif request.method == 'POST':
        return HttpResponse('POST request')

medium

A. Using single equals (=) instead of double equals (==) in the if condition

B. Missing import of HttpResponse

C. No return statement for other methods

D. Using elif instead of else

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the if condition syntax

   The condition uses request.method = 'GET' which is an assignment, not a comparison.

2. Step 2: Correct the comparison operator

   It should use == to compare values, like request.method == 'GET'.

3. Final Answer:

   Using single equals (=) instead of double equals (==) in the if condition -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use == for comparison, not = [OK]

Hint: Use == to compare, not = [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing assignment (=) with comparison (==)
• Forgetting to import HttpResponse (though not asked here)
• Assuming elif must be else

5. You want a Django view to accept only POST requests and return a 405 error for others. Which is the best way to implement this behavior?

hard

A. Check request.method inside the view and return 405 manually

B. Use @csrf_exempt decorator to allow POST only

C. Use @require_http_methods(["POST"]) decorator on the view

D. Raise Http404 if method is not POST

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Django's method restriction decorators

   The @require_http_methods decorator automatically restricts allowed HTTP methods and returns 405 if not allowed.

2. Step 2: Compare manual checking vs decorator

   While manual checking is possible, the decorator is cleaner, less error-prone, and standard practice.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   @csrf_exempt is unrelated to method restriction; raising Http404 is incorrect for method errors.

4. Final Answer:

   Use @require_http_methods(["POST"]) decorator on the view -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Use @require_http_methods to restrict methods cleanly [OK]

Hint: Use @require_http_methods(["POST"]) to restrict POST only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using @csrf_exempt to control HTTP methods
• Raising Http404 instead of 405 for wrong methods
• Manually coding method checks instead of decorator